Engineering Recognition Ceremonies

School of Engineering Recognition Ceremonies

KU Engineering hosts two graduate recognition ceremonies each year. Special seating is available for guests with limited mobility. For the spring ceremony, to ensure all guests with mobility concerns are accommodated, we ask that parties limit their use of reserved seating to those who need it and one additional companion. If you intend to participate or “walk,” please make appropriate arrangements for your regalia as it is required in all graduation ceremonies. During the ceremony, engineering administration, engineering department leadership, and faculty will be present to congratulate students.

Each ceremony is livestreamed with a link available on the School of Engineering homepage. 

The recognition ceremony is also a time to honor outstanding master's and doctoral students, seniors in each major, as well as the Locke Award for Outstanding Senior, which is selected from that group. The School recognizes several faculty award winners, including the Gould Award winners for Outstanding Faculty Adviser and Outstanding Faculty Educator. Engineering students are encouraged to nominate faculty for the two Gould awards.

University Commencement

The university hosts the University of Kansas Commencement in the spring semester. All students who have graduated in that class (which includes summer, fall, and spring graduates) are invited to attend the university’s official ceremony, which takes place the Sunday after finals in the spring semester. It is held in KU's Memorial Stadium. The "walk down the Hill" is a fun tradition where students often bring balloons or decorate caps and gowns.

When a student applies for graduation in Enroll & Pay, this indicates to university officials of your potential participation in University Commencement.

Doctoral students are also invited to attend the annual Doctoral Hooding Ceremony hosted by the KU Office of Graduate Studies in the spring.